Frontline
February 1998
Campaign

on the media's saffron hype

Disturbed by the casualness with which the BJP – part of the sangh parivar which was responsible for much of the communal bloodletting in India in recent years — was being regarded by the mainline media in the context of the coming general elections, we sent out an alert in early January to secular groups within India and to NRI organisations suggesting that some thought be given to possible strategies for a co-ordinated secular intervention. We are heartened by the widespread response it evoked. and reproduce below some of them.
 
Union Research Group

Mumbai
One possibility we would suggest is a very large public meeting on the theme INDIANS FOR A SECULAR ALTERNATIVE, involving trade unionists, journalists, the left parties, women’s organisations, lawyers, etc.
It should be a very large meeting, highly publicised, and with a focus as well as a framework for mobilisation. The emphasis should be on public discussion, and projection of SOLIDARITY around a secular alternative, inspiring people with confidence in the strength of democratic forces and democratic alternatives against the barrage of seductive and pernicious propaganda which tries to lull them into believing there is no alternative (TINA) to an authoritarian and communal government.
Rohini Hensman, Jairas Banaji

Chingari
Madison, USA
I have read your message about starting some kind of media campaign and am all for it. I don’t know what kind of response you have got but we would be willing to receive and redistribute any materials you have and send us. I am part of a group called CHINGARI in Madison, WI and we would probably all work together in this effort.
In addition, I work for a radio station in Madison and I could devote at least one 1-hour programme to this issue as well as speak on many other programmes and try to use other media within the US as well.
Aravinda

FOIL
(Forum of Indian Leftists)
We need to collaborate on a campaign for the next elections. Please let us know how we can work together and count on us in your fight against the fascist and communalist BJP and RSS.
Partha Banerjee

Coalition Against Communalism
Berkeley
Friends, I learnt recently from Hari Sharma (Vancouver) — Non-resident Indians for Secularism and Democracy (NRISAD) that Daya Verma of CERAS ALTERNATIVES, Montreal, is initiating a coordinated effort for NRI intervention in the coming parliamentary elections by way of ads in Indian papers in support of secular and democratic candidates following an alert received from Communalism Combat, Bombay. Suggestions for action:
Placement of advertisements concentrated say in UP and Maharashtra, in local languages, emphasising the misrule of BJP in many states and exhorting people to vote for the candidate who stands for secularism and social justice.
Maharaj Kaul

Tamil Nadu Science Forum
Tamil nadu
Having seen your alert, we feel that there is a similar projection of the BJP in the media even in Tamil Nadu. All the vernacular papers are projecting the BJP led by Vajpayee as the only alternative.
Secular minded people can and should respond immediately to this biased media projection by writing articles, sending letters to the editor’s page. Sabrang Communications and other organisations can design and print posters against communal forces, have screenings of video films like In the Name of Ram and Father, Son and Holy Wars.
Besides, all other secular groups should give a joint appeal to the people for a secular government at the Centre.
B. Srikumar

D.A.V. College
Dehra Dun
Votaries for the BJP who have climbed on to the bandwagon to support this party’s forming a government at the Centre are forgetting that a party with inherently fascist tendencies, once it gets a full majority, will play havoc with the Indian polity not leaving any space for the expression of dissent.
Apart from the media bias and bias within the judiciary, we can see how the bureaucracy to a great extent finds itself subconsciously or otherwise giving support to the sangh parivar forces.
In my opinion, we should work steadily and silently through the friendly media as well as cyberspace to put forward our point of view.
S K Kulshrestha
Principal DAV College

Coalition for Egalitarian & Secular India
California
Thanks for the alert. I have forwarded it to various places and friends via e-mail, and a few by fax. Hope it generates support and response.
I.K.Shukla





 



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